gibbons



Feb. 12 1924.

R. GIBBONS AIRPLANE RECEIVING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 15. 1 919 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR PM V M M ATTORNEYS Feb. 12 1924. Re. 15,758

R. GIBBONS AIRPLANE RECEIVING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 15. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q' 2 INVENTOR ATTORNEY Feb. 12 1924.

R. GIBBONS AIRPLANE nscmvme APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 15. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Q 2 INVENTOR P I BY an, I iQORNEYS Feb. 12 1924,

R. GIBBONS AIRPLANE RECEIVING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 15. 1919 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I 2 Z i lNVENT-OR [2.4, 444 2.! M

ATTORNEYS s N O a m G R A I RPLANE RECE I VING APPARATUS 1919 5 Shgets-Sheet 5 Original Filed Aug. 15

Q INVENTOR 44'ziuwra 1 ATTORNEYS I omens, OI BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ABSIGNOB 'IO I ABY A. lumen, 01'

as... Feb. 12, 1924.

-,UN.r Ti-:b STATESVPATENT OFFICE.

BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

. AIRPLANE-RECEIVING APPARATUS.

Original Io. 1,487,880, dated Iovember 28, 1882, Serial Io. 817,68, filed August 15, 1010. ammm' for reissue filed December 14, 1888. Serial Io. 680,771.

To all whomit may 007mm:

Be itknown that I, RICHARD GIBBUNB, a citizen of the United States, residin at Brooklyn in the county of Kings and tate of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Ai1 lane-Receiving Apparatus, of which the f o lowing is a specification.

e invention has for an object to pro- .vide an a paratus adapted to receive an air lane, op-carri or the like and of suc character that :fi: airplane. may travel safely along such apparatus.

'A further object is to construct an apparatus of the .above nature in such a manner as to produce sudden changes in the velocity of an airplane within a limited space, for instance, to enable an airplane to land upon a building or ship.

Other objects are to provide such an ap-- paratus which will be adjustable to receive airplanes approaching from difierent directions or elevations and which, as far as possible will prevent accidents and injuries to the machine or operator during the landing operation.

urther objects and advantages of the invention will be, in part, obvious; and in part specifically pointed out in the description hereinafter contained, in which is disclosed an apparatus made in accordance with the invention and designed to effect the landing of an airplane. It will be obvious, however, that relatively reversed movements between the apparatus and airplane, would adapt the apparatus to assist 1n starting an airplane within a limited space. The present embodiment of the invention is, therefore, to be considered merely as illustrative of its principle. In the draw- Fig.1 is I made in accordance tain of the parts appearin in section.

Fig. 2 is a detail view 0 a traveling web adapted to be used in the construction shown in Fig. 1. I

on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a section 4 and 5 are detail views partly in a side elevation of an apparatus with the invention, cersectlon respectively of left and right hand ends of the structure shown in Fig. 1.-

Fi 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of 7 is a plan view of the a paratus.

F1gs. 8 to 11 are somewhat diagrammatic views taken respectively on line 8-8, line 9-9, line 10-10, line 11-11 of Fig. 7, and showing the contour of the side guides of the apparatus.

he apparatus is provided with a suitable runway 1' (Figs. 1, 6 and 8 to 11) of rela tlvely extended lengt which is adapted to receiye an aird'plane 2 shown conventionally 1n Flg. 1, an permit the airplaneto move along the runway. -The runway is supported by any suitable frame work 3, which may e formed of structural steel members, as illustrated.

In order to assist in brin 'ng an airplane to rest within therunway, t e air lane supportmg surface'thereof is prefera ly caused to move in a direction 0 posite to the direction of movement of t e airplane along the runway, whereby the tail skid 4 of the airplane, or any other suitable frictional surface, will bear against the movin surface of the runwa and the high re ative velocity between the two elements will be efl'ective to bring the airplane to rest in an exceedingly short space of travel. In the present embodiment of the invention, this movable supporting surface of the runway takes the orm of a series of continuous traveling webs 5, which constitute the bottom of the runway, and are appro riately driven from sprocket wheels 6 an 7, enga in with lugs 8 (Fig. 2) on the webs 5.

f esired, devices may be employed in connection with the webs 5 to prevent them from saggin under'the weight of an airplane. As s own in i 2, the sprocket wheels 6 may be journaled b 7' in a bed plate 8' aroun 5 passes,

means of shaft I which the web while the shaft 9 for the wheels 7 1s resiliently mounted upon leaf springs 10. With a construction of this nature a certain amount of resilience is provided in the apparatus to take up the shock of impact of the airplane upon the web. Fur-' such table 11 is pivoted to lugs 12 carried by the bed plate 8', and suitable sprin devices, 13 and 14, press against the tab e 1l to force it against the web. Antifriction rollers 15 may be provided between the web 5 and table 11, if desired. In this way the webs will not be subjected to undue strains when an airplane passes over them, and yet the surface of the runway formed by the series of webs, will be approximately level.

In the form of the invention illustrated, the traveling webs 5 are driven from individual motors 16, suitably carried by the frame work 3, and trip ing devices are employed to stop the we s after the airplane has Referring passed thereover. more particu arly to Fig. 6, the webs may be driven from a motor 16 through a -magnetic clutch 17 included in a circuit normally inactive,

comprising a source of energy 18 and a circuit closer 19, normally held away from contact 20, by means of a latch 21.

The magnetic clutch 17 is, therefore, but when an airplane asses over'for instance the second succeeding web 5 after the web desired to be stopped, either the wheels or tail skid of the airplane Wlll depress a reciprocable actuating member 22 disposed between the webs, and such member 22 will trip the latch 21 which is in the circuit correspond-' ing to the web desired to be stopped, thus closing circuit to magnetic clutch 17 and disconnecting the drive from such web. The motor 16 in the present form is intended to be manually thrown in and out by an attendant.

The motors 16 are preferably run at progressively increasing'speeds toward the far end of the runway, or ratio to their correspon ing webs, in order that the webs which the airplane engages successively as it moves toward the farther end of the runway, will move at progressively increasing speeds. In this way the braking action of the webs upon the airplane 1s brought into play gradually and with progressively increasing effect.

In combination with the runway 1, there may be employed suit-able side guides 23, adapted to underlie the planes of the airplane and assist in maintaining the airplane within the runway 1 or guide it to said runway, .in case the airplane should alight improperly upon the apparatus. In case the airplane should tend to rock within the run-' way, the skids 24 upon its wings will engage the upper surfaces of side guides 23,

i and tend to restore the airplane to horizontal. position.

As shown more full in Figs. 7 to 11, the curvature of the si e guides 23 becomes sharper toward the far end of the runway,

, and the runway and side guides converge toward, this same end of the apparatus. Fig. 11 shows the contour of the side guides tively slight, so that an air ared at a higher at the entrance end of the apparatus, the curvature of the side guides being comparalane landing upon one of the guides may 7 e readily directed, into runway 1. As the airplane passesalong the runway, however, the sharper curvature of guides 23, (as in dicated in Figs. 10, 9 and 8,) tends to guide the airplane more abruptly into the runway, the final curvature indicated in Fig. 8 being preferably so sharp as to substantially confine the air lane within the runway at that point. The walls of side guides 23 adjacent to the runway should, however,

be lowenough to clear the hubs of the airplane wheels. As shown in Fig. 7 the width of the traveling webs 5 progressively decreases toward the far end of the runway, the adjacent walls of the guides 23 overhanging the sides of each web to .a certain extent. j The side guides 23 may be provided with conduits 23" connected to passages 23" which lead to the surfaces of said side ides. When the apparatus is being used or landing purposes, the conduits 23 may be emplo ed as suction conduits to'rarify the air a ove the side guides and assist in drawing down the wings of the airplane to, or maintaining the same in roper position. In case the apparatus is ing used for starting purposes, the conduits may be employed as pressure conduits to elevate the airplane wings and thus assist in lifting the airplane from ofl" the ap aratus.

Referring more particular y to Figs. 1 and 4, the entrance end of the apparatus may be rovided with. a suitable ramp 25, having side guides 26, similar to the members 23 previously described, such ramp being preferably adjustable to different inclina'tions to accommodate itself to airplanes approaching the apparatus at different elevations. In the present construction the ramp 25 is pivoted to lugs 27 on the framework 3 of the apparatus, and a pneumatic cylinder 28 may be actuated to open or close toggle links 29 to adjust the ramp, through piston rod 30 and an arm 31 pivoted between rod 30 and the links 29. A box 32 containing tan bark or similar loose material may be interposed between the ramp 25 and .the runway 1, to impart a deadening effect to the airplane as it comes on to the apparatus.

The runway 1, beyond the traveling webs 5, and at its far end, may be provided with suitable devices to stop the airplane similar to the webs 5, is disposed at the far end of the apparatus and rotated and driven downwardly,

so that its upper surface moves thus tending to prevent an airplane from riding upwardly along the web and passing off from the apparatus. The web 33 ma be carriedupon a slidable plate 34 mounte on guides 35 (Fig. 5), thus permitting the web 33 to slide backwardly under the impact of an airplane. A piston rod 36 is shown in Fig. 5a's connected to plate 34, and such piston rod works within a pneumatic recoil cylinder 37 carried by the frame work 3, the web 33 and associated parts thus constituting a recoil device for the-airplane. A further pneumatic cylinder 38, may be operated to change the inclination of web 33, through piston rod 39, tog le links 40 and 41, and intermediate ivote arm 42; link 41 may also be provi ed with a piston 42' working within a cylinder 43, to provide a ieldable su port for the u per end of web igs. 1 and 5 t ere is also- 33. In shown a box 44 interposed between the runway and web 33, w iichbox may contain sand or similar loose material to deaden the motion of an airplane toward web 33; a screen 45, if desired, may also be employed to enmesh the airplane propeller in case the latter moves beyond the sand box 44, and etc rotation of the propeller.

I f desired,-'a series of nozzles 43, supplied with air under hi h pressure through flexible pipes 43'? may e supported in any suitable manner adjacent the outer end of web 33, whereby the air pressure from such nozzles may act upon the surfaces of an airplane to tend to prevent the same from rising on the web 33 and passing off the runway, during a landing operation. In order that such nozzles may not interfere with the passage of an airplane over the web 33 in startin they are preferably adjustably mounte i l, for instance by the ball and socket connection 43 (Fig. 5) whereby the nozzles may be moved out of the way during a starting operation. I

The apparatus is preferably so constructed as to be turned in a substantially horizontal plane, to' accommodate itself to airplanes a proaching from different directions, and tie inclination or tilt of the runway is also preferably adjustable so as t-o cause the airplane to ride up an inclination of suitable a Is, in stopping. The adjustment of the iiiifiination of the runway is accomplished in the present structure by pivoting the frame work 3 to a turn table 46 by meansof a shaft 47 fixed to the frame work and journaled in the turn table. A motor 48, mounted on the turn table, turns a worm 49, which latter engages with a worm gear segment 50 fixed to the shaft 47, so that by rotating motor 48, the a paratus vmay be tilted to any desired inc mation. In the present form the pivot is located at one side I of the center of frame work 3 thus enabling a greater inclination to be obtained with a given amount of space available beneath such frame work.

To adjust the axis of the runway in a horizontal plane, to accommodate airplanes coming from different directions, the turn table 46 is-mounted overv suitable rollers 51' be landed or started according to the direction ofthewind.

In adjusting the direction in which the longitudinal axis of the runway extends, either end of the apparatus may betilted until rollers 57 mounted beneath the respective ends of the a paratus and carried by suitable shock absor mg devices 58, come into enga ment with circular tracks '59, or either en of the apparatus may rest on such' tracks during use.

It will be understood that suitable heatin pipes or coils (not shown) may be employe to prevent snow or ice from interfering with the operation of the apparatus.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been described, it will be obvious that many changes may be made therein without departing from the s irit of the invention, as defined in the fol owing claims:

I claim:

airplane receiving apparatus com- PI'ISlDg a runway adapted to receive an airplane, and means-for moving the airplane supporting surface of said runwa in a plane substantially parallel to the direction of movement of an airplane along said runway,- said means being operative to move the portions of said runway ad'acent one end thereof at speeds progressive y greater than the speeds at which the portions of the runway at the other end are moved.

2. An airplane landin apparatus comprising a runway adapt to receive an airplane, said runway having a movable airplane supportin surface, and means for moving said sur ace in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of an airplane along said runway, said means being operative to move the portions of said runway adjacent one end thereof at speeds to gressively greater than the speeds at which the portions of the runway at the other end""'"- at speeds progressively increasing toward the ar end 0 the runway.

4. An airplane landing apparatus'compris-.

ing a runway having a series of.continuo us traveling webs adapted to receive an air-v plane, means for moving said webs in a direction opposite to the direction of movement of an-airplane along said runway, and an automatic trip ing device adapted to stop one of said we s after an airplane has passed thereover.

5. An air lane receiving apparatus comprisin an e ongated runway having guides exten ing alon opposite sides thereof, said guides being 0 such height as to engage relatively closely under the wings of an airplane passing over the runway to assist in righting the plane and maintaining the same on said runway.

6. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising a runway adapted to receive an airplane, in combination with side guides adapted to underlie the planes of, an airplane, tending to position the airplane properly in said runwa and means for withdrawing air from t e space above the side guides.

7. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising a runway adapted to receive an airplane, in combination with side guides adapted to underlie the planes of an airplane, tending to position the airplane properly in said runway, said guides having conduits leading to the surfaces thereof, and an air suction device connected to said conduits.

8. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising a runway adapted to receive an airplane, in combination with side guides adapted to underlie the planes of an airlane, said side guides havin curved suraces directed toward the airp ane supporting surface of the runway but with sharper curvature toward the far end of the runway.

9. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising a runway adapted to receive an airplanein combination with side guides adapted to underlie the planes of an airplane, tendin to position the airplane properly' in sai runway, and side guides gradually converging toward the far end of the runway.

10. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising a runway adapted to receive an airplane, in combination with side guides adapted to underlie the planes of an airlane, said side guides havin curved suraces directed toward the airp ane supporting surface of'the runway, but with sharper curvature toward the far end of the runway, said runway and side guides gradually convergin toward the far end of the runway. 11. 11 an airplane receiving heapparatus, a continuous traveling web adap to support -means for yielding an airplane, drivi c linders therefor, a supporting table un er ying the portion of the web which supports the airplane, and y pressing said table against such portion.

12. An airplane receiving apparatus hav ing a runway adapted to receive an airplane, a movable ramp adjacent to one end of said runway, and mea svfor adjusting the angle of inclination of said ramp to the runway.

13. An airplane receiving apparatus having a runway adapted to receive an airplane, a recoil device at the far end of the runway adapted to absorb the force of impact of the moving airplane, said device com rising a reciprocally mounted platform, an a pneumatic piston and cylinder connected to said platform.

14. An airplane receiving apparatus having a runway adapted to receive an airplane, a recoil device at the far-end of the runway adapted to absorb the force of impact of a moving airplane, said device comprising a reciprocably mounted platform, a pneumatic piston and cylinder connected to said platform, and an inclined, downwardly moving web carried by said platform.

15. An airplane receiving apparatus having a runway ada ted to receive an airplane and an inclined ownwardly traveling web located adjacent to the far end of the runway, and ada ted to engage an airplane passing from t e runway.

16. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising a runway, a framework carrying said runway, said framework being pivoted between its ends to swing in a substantially vertical plane, and mechanism adjacent said pivot for adjusting the inclination. 'of said runway.

17. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising a runway adapted to receive an airplane, a frame work carrvin said runway, a support for said frame work rotatable in a substantially horizontal plane, means permitting tilting of said framework on said support, said framework, having a roller disposed adjacent to its end, and a circular track located beneath the framework adapted to engage said roller. i

18. An airplane receivinggapparatus comprising a runway adaptedltdreceive an air plane, a framework carrying said runway, 'means' for tilting saidiramework to adjust the runway to the desired inclination, said framework havin beneath one of its ends ashock-absorbing evice adapted to rest upon the structure 'upon which the airplane receiving apparatus is mounted.

19. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising wrunway having a series of traveling webs adapted to receive an airplane, means for'moving said webs in' a plane substantially parallel to the direction of the movement of an airplane alonguaid runway,

and an automatic trip ing device ada ted to stop one of said we s after an airp ane has passed thereover.

20. The combination set forth in claim 5 wherein the runway and guides converge toward one end of the runway.

21. An airplane receiving apparatus mounted to turn upon a vertical axis, means to turn the same about said vertical axis, and landing and launching means for airplanes mounted on and movable with the apparatus, and adapted to be located in proper position with regard to the direction of the wind by moving the apparatus about said vertical axis, said means lncluding a pluralitiy of traveling webs arranged in the same p ane, and operable at difi'erent speeds.

22. In a device of the character described, traveling webs located in alinement,'rollers supporting contiguous ends of the webs, means for driving the webs, and a transversely disposed member interposed between said rollers and acting to bridge the space between the contiguous ends of the webs.

23. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising a traveling web adapted to support an airplane passin thereover and to have frictional contact therewith, means for driving said traveling web, and means associated with said web for guiding an airplane on to the supporting surface of the web.

24. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising a traveling web adapted to support an airplane passing thereover and toj have frictional cont-act therewith, means fordriving said traveling web, and means associated with said web for confining the movement of an airplane passing thereover to a ath substantially in alinement with the direction of motion of the web.

25. An airplane receivin apparatus comprising a traveling web a. apted to support an airplane passin thereover and to have frictional contact t erewith, means for driving said traveling web. and means associated with said web for guiding an airplane on to the supporting surface of the web, said means comprising guide members disposed on opposite sides of the web and converging toward the far end of the web. I

26. In a construction of the character described a plurality of traveling webs located in alinement, bmd 'ng means located between the webs, ang means for driving the webs independently of each other, and at difierent speeds.

27. In a construction of the character described a plurality of traveling webs located in alinement and arranged at an inclination, bridging means located between. the webs, and means for driving each web independently in either direction substantially as and for the purpose described.

28. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising a runway adapted to receive an airplane, and means for withdrawing air from the s ace above said apparatus over which the p anes of an airplane travel in passing along said apparatus. 7

29. An airplane receiving apparatus comprising a runway adapted to receive an airplane, and an air suction device together with conduits leading therefrom to the surface of the apparatus over which an airplane travels in passing alon said apparatus.

In testimony whereo I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

Dated, December 4th, 1923 RICHARD GIBBONS.

Witnesses:

KENNETH S. NEAL, Mn: ME. Mmm 

